Thanh Long

I’ve been dining here for years and this past visit was absolutely theeee best! Great food & service as usual. Our waitress Carol was a doll!

Came here with a big group for my friend’s birthday. Great experience overall and loved the food. We ordered and the food came out really quick ready for us to devour! Been wanting to eat here for forever and I’ll def come back. Loved the roasted crab, garlic noodles and mussels. The shaken beef was pretty good as well. Though, I’d have to say I was a bit parched after eating everything due to the saltiness. I still recommend this place, if you can dish out on a $ 40 – 50 crab ahh!

I came here with my little family to try their infamous garlic noodles and roast crab. They definitely met my expectations, but what didn’t meet my expectations was the customer service. Although they were friendly there were just a few things that could’ve improved…
1. My reservation was for 4 as in if I didn’t make it they would charge me $ 100 ($ 25/​person) 1 of which happens to be a very noodle-​hungry toddler. They didn’t give him his own cup of water, so I gave him mine, and you bet your ass I wasn’t drinking from that cup after… with all that garlic noodle back wash!
2. When I wanted to ask for water no one came by to check on our table, which would’ve given me the perfect opportunity to ask for water (yeah still on that subject… I was thirsty).
3. After a few minutes, I finally flagged someone down to get me a glass of my own water, and a dessert menu… a few minutes passed by and I didn’t get either. So when I reminded the gentleman for the dessert menu (gave up on the water) his response was «oh yes, there are only 3 kinds… chocolate cake, crème brûlée cake, and banana» uhhh do you want to be more specific about the 3^rd option? Is it a cake? Is it served with ice cream? Or are you just going to charge me $ 15 for some fucking fruit!!! So I said forget it, and asked for the check.
4. Oh and when the host asked us if we wanted a drink my hubby asked for a «kentucky mule» the host said they didn’t have that… ok but I’m sure your bar tender can confirm that!
Overall it was an ok experience, definitely good for take out and maybe a date with just my hubby, or maybe I came at a bad time, since they automatically charge an 18% gratuity for Father’s Day they didn’t feel the need to work for the tip.

Love this place! Absolutely fantastic on the food and service! The crabs are to die for and we also had an array of appetizers that were very good. We’ve been here a couple of times with large groups and have always had a fun time! Casual ambience, crowded all the time and definitely has a fun festive feel to it.
Pros:
Crabs, garlic noodles and a lot of great food surrounding it.
They accept reservations and offer valet
Cons:
Not my fav part of SF and quite a haul from everything else
If you don’t trust the valet (i normally don’t), then it’s a good 15 – 20 mins around the block looking for street parking
I’m giving it a 5 start for the food but the overall experience with parking would probably make it a 4 – 4.5 star. Would definitely recommend.

We had a reservation at 845pm and the host told us «don’t worry just be here before 9pm» so we got to the restaurant at 855pm… And everything is amazing. The raspberry lemon drop martini, shrimp toast, chicken satay, shaken beef, garlic roasted crab, colossal shrimp with garlic noodles… ALLL soo good! Happy tummy, happy wife, happy life … Right?! lol !
Our waitress was so cute & sweet. I just wanted one cocktail but she was too hard to resistant to tell her no.
Overall great experience & great food

I’ve only been here twice. I would give them 4 stars but the service on my second visit wasn’t really up to my liking. Our server was kinda slow and most of the time, we were left waiting for him to come back to either take our orders or bring the bill. We are a party of seven so gratuity was already included in our bill. So to me it felt like he wasn’t trying anymore to service us.
Anyway, roast crab was really good (both times i visited) especially when paired with garlic noodles. It was really good but too big that I couldnt finish and had to take some to go. As for the starters, my fave is still salt & pepper calamari. The shrimp toast was okay too, but i prefer calamari. I had crème brûlée cheesecake for dessert. The crust was the best part. The chocolate lava is also recommended if you’re not a fan of cheesecake.
They are closed on Mondays and open for dinner time only. The restaurant gets really busy (and it’s not that big). We had to make a reservation just to make sure that we can get seats and don’t have to wait. We arrived on time and our table was ready when we came in. Parking is really hard to find, one of the reasons why I dont frequent this place. They have valet parking but they charge extra if you have a large size car.

$ 300 for 2 roast crab, 1 drunken crab, one prawn w/​garlic noodle, stir fry squid in tomato sauce, a side of garlic rice for $ 8.50…wtf…and a heineken beer. I also ordered the mussels in ginger sauce and asked the waitress if she’ll remember everything I ordered and she said «Of course!»…never got our mussels, think we paid for it to.
The garlic noodles were disgusting… over cooked… OVER COOKED… I didn’t taste any fresh garlic on there. All I tasted was butter with powdered Parmesan cheese and most likely powdered garlic. Roast crab tasted like butter and black pepper, the drunken crab came with a big ass bowl of soup that tasted like bland chicken stock with some green onions thrown inside.
$ 300…not worth it. This place is still alive because of it’s past recognition, but so sorry to say it’s well past that time for this place.

Definitely need to make a reservation for this place. Once in a lifetime I’d eat here just cause of the price and because I prefer meat over seafood.
My coworkers and I ordered salt and pepper calamari and the shrimp toast for appetizers. The calamari I could just not get enough of!!! The mixture of the salt and pepper is just right, not too salty nor spicy. The shrimp toast I wasn’t really into it, it’s just a fried shrimp and I thought the pieces were really small.
Now for the real deal, I ordered a roast crab which has the restaurant’s secret spices and garlic sauce on it. It’s humongous and I’m still in awe. This taste good with the garlic noodles too! I put the garlic noodles in the big shell of the crab to give it more flavor. Everything about the crab was juicy and the butter mixed with the crab is tasty.
Dessert: I got the crème brûlée cheesecake which was rich, thick, and creamy. I’d rate it ³⁄₅. The crust is the best part though.
Service: our waiter was really slow and preferred to take care of other smaller tables. He ignored a lot of our requests and seems to not be paying attention most of the time. For dessert, he asked everybody what they wanted EXCEPT my boss… He’s standing right next to him and just skipped him and forgot about him. Dumb!

My BF mentioned this place as he lives around the area. It’s walking distance to his apartment. So Sunday night (before Memorial Day), we didn’t feel like cooking so he asked if I wanted to try this place. I first went to Unilocal for reviews and famous dishes. For 3 $$$ signs, I thought — this is pretty expensive for a seafood place but maybe worth a try since we’re nearby? Best decision ever made. I made a reservation (via Unilocal) and got a 5:30pm dinner reservation. (Yep, we eat dinner early. LOL) When we arrived, there were a few people waiting outside. We checked in (around 5:45) and got seated right away. The place was PACKED at 5:45pm!
I got excited as I saw people enjoying their dishes. We started with their fresh spring rolls — they were light and bite size. Good and healthy start for an appetizer since we were going to have a lot of sodium later on. Ha! We ordered some of their staple dishes: Shaken Beef — 5 stars. Colossal Prawns served with garlic noodles — 4 stars. (I’m not really a shrimp person) Spicy eggplant with Chicken — 5 stars. Just enough spice with a ton of flavor. The sweet and spicy sauce was killer! We didn’t order crab since we’re both not into crab really. (And frankly, I’m lazy to eat that stuff) We didn’t have enough room for dessert so we skipped that. Our waitress was super nice, fast and very attentive! We got our food in less than 10 minutes upon ordering. I’ll definitely come back here again. For a dinner of 2, we spent about $ 120. Definitely worth it!

After all these years of living so close to Thanh Ling, I’ve finally tried it! Sadly, it was very disappointing.
Every time I eat crab with my mom, she would always compare it to the infamous roasted crab at Thanh Long. She would always say that the crab is super fresh here. When I came here this past weekend, it tasted far from fresh. The crab was obviously frozen. Some of the meat in the smaller legs were actually kind of gross and the texture was very off. The worst part? The (frozen) crab cost me and my friend $ 54!!! Seriously?!?
When I was young, my aunt would sometimes bring home the popular garlic noodles from this place. I thought it to be the best garlic noodles ever actually. But they weren’t that great when I tried it again this weekend. The noodles were a little overcooked and flavor just wasn’t there. I have to say the jumbo prawns on top were seasoned and cooked pretty good though.
We also ordered the shaking beef, which was just okay also. The meat was tender, but the flavor wasn’t amazing or anything.
Overall, I feel like this restaurant has certainly gone down in terms of quality. Everything is overpriced, especially for what you’re getting. I don’t mind paying a good price as long as it’s good. I would give this place one star, but the service was really good.

I can’t believe I haven’t written a review of this place… I love thanh long. Forever lol. Best garlic noodles and crabs idc this is the legit spot. Been coming here for years. This place is a staple in the city of SF. Everyone who lives in SF knows about this place … Not super expensive but not cheap. Anyways just try it you won’t regret it

Pricy but taste good.
We came here Saturday night around 5 w 9 ppl. We made a reservation.
Orders:
Crabs! I like the seasoning. We order 4 crabs so 2 ppl shared 1 crab. Some of them’s crab was mushy but they replaced w new one.
Dumpling, spring rolls are good. Meat roll was not that good.
Server was not super nice.
We ordered about 5dishes then it cost $ 50 per person maybe because crabs.

This is a restaurant I have wanted to try for years, but I have to say it is overrated and they are living on their laurels of the past.
We started with their Traditional Vietnamese Salad, basically it was shredded cabbage, a little carrot, no cucumber as advertised and when the waitress set it down, said they were out of peanuts. It was topped with 4 or 5 shrimp, and we couldn’t taste the dressing. If it weren’t for the bowl of chili sauce would have been tasteless. We ordered the roasted crab and garlic noodles. The noodles were over cooked, did not have the chewy texture other Vietnamese restaurants in my hood serve. The crab was drenched in butter, the spice was hard to determine. All in all, not a great experience food wise. There are better restaurants to experience roasted crab. It was also expensive. The only reason for two stars, ambience and service is decent. Maybe we just hit a bad night, but I much prefer PPQ on Clement.

Crab is market price. In our case about $ 45 each so it’s not cheap.
I used to go here as a kid and remember it being the best crab ever. Fast forward 15 years and I tried the place again recently. It is delicious still! The service is good and the food comes out fast. Make sure you make a reservation and be on time though otherwise they will not seat you without your entire party present.
The crab was really peppered and buttered. My dad who is a fisherman said the crab was not fresh but I am no seafood connoisseur and I loved it.
Get the roast crab and garlic noodles. Simple. So so good.

To this day, I still have dreams of the garlic noodles. I know the restaurant is known for its dungeness crab, which was good but the garlic noodles shined.
We made reservations here (a must) and was surprisingly able to find parking nearby. For a party of 3, we ordered two dungeness crabs (salt and pepper), two garlic noodles (i wish we ordered more), and a sauté vegetable dish (to try to be healthy). The dungeness crabs were seasoned very well but the meat was not as sweet as it could be. The garlic noodles were doused with garlic and oil. The noodles were flavorful, moist and chewy. If we could have ordered more, I would have ordered more garlic noodles.

I’m so mad! Thanh Long is not poppin’ anymore. Service was super slow, and the quality of the food has diminished.

This is an absolute favorite for when I’m in San Francisco. Located in Ocean Beach, it is a long trip from downtown, however, well worth the trip. It is most known for the crab, go during crab season and stick to this when ordering. It is messy and delicious. Also, don’t forget to order the garlic noodles which are just superb. You can’t go wrong with the different prep methods for the crab and we always prefer to be downstairs rather than on the second floor. Get a reservation before going just in case!

They have good chef, I agree. Food is delicious, but it’s not Vietnamese style. I know their most popular item is the Crab, but it seems like casual dinner is too much to ask here. I won’t write review about the Crab. I ordered Asparagus soup and the Hot and Sour soup. They tasted ok. The Saigon Beef was totally overpriced.
But the most disappointing thing is customer service. We had 2 people, we didn’t even have napkins. I could tell they might be busy taking care of other big families ordering crabs and so, but ignoring other small tables is not all right. We ordered food to eat with rice, but the hostess took it wrong with garlic noodle. When the rice came, our food was already cold. I mean, being Amercanized is acceptable, but this service way was totally out of Vietnamese-​cuisine-​scale.
It’s a fancy restaurant. If you’re looking for an Asian place, this place might work. If you’re looking for a Vietnamese restaurant, then I would recommend moving forward to the next place on your Unilocal list.

Simply put: You must try. If you’re in SF and looking for a phenomenal seafood restaurant, this is the spot. In my personal opinion, Asian make the best seafood dishes containing flavorful mouthfuls of savory and sweet. Vietnamese fine cuisine is contains French influences and the two combined is extraordinary. Thanh Long captures this. The atmosphere is fancy yet intimate and the waiters are attentive. Go ahead. Give it a try.

This place is definitely not as good as PPQ and is more expensive. I would pass on this place after trying it once.
The roast crab is the best flavor, but even that is fairly bland. The drunken crab is pretty bland and not that great. The garlic noodles have no garlic flavor; all you can taste is butter. I’ve never been a fan of shaken beef anywhere, but this place’s was okay. The calamari was decent/​good.
Good service at this restaurant, large space, easy to find parking. Otherwise, taste-​wise, price-​wise, really no redeeming value.

This has got to be my favorite restaurant! I will take seafood any day than meat and this place meets my expectations continuously. Although, they have very limited parking because it is in the city and around a residential area, they provide Valet! I recommend valet unless you get lucky enough to park in front of the restaurant but goodluck! Its either street parking or valet because they don’t have a private lot.
When we go here, we usually dress more business casual but it totally doesn’t matter, you’ll get your hands dirty anyways. The outside of the restaurant doesn’t look very pleasing/​fancy but the inside looks 10x better! We ALWAYS ALWAYS make a reservation because they get very busy, especially during the weekends. The waiting area is quite small but they have a full bar where you can sit, wait, and have a drink. The restaurant isn’t the biggest and it gets a little tight in there, but fortunately, they do have an upstairs area.
Their customer service here is perfect. They aren’t overwhelming, but they are quick to refill your water, and they’re always walking around, that way if you need something they’re easily accessible. Everyone is quick, friendly, Americanized (no racial) and professional.
The food is astounding! We start off with ordering the Salt & Pepper Calamari, sounds plain, but it’s the most flavorful calamari ever. My boyfriend and I always share 1 crab because they are HUGE with lots of meat. There are different flavors of crab but our favorite is the Roast Crab. We’ve tried the others but Roast Crab is my all-​time favorite. We order garlic noodles on the side and the fried banana with vanilla ice cream for dessert. The traditional Vietnamese salad and mango salad is bomb, very light but good. If you do want to order some type of meat, the Shaken beef is super tender and melts in your mouth! EVERYTHING IS JUST DELICIOUS AND HEAVENLY.
The food is comparable to PPQ, if you’ve ever been there, however, Thanh Long is more expensive but you get what you pay for! I think PPQ is more on the casual side but if you want to be a little fancier, Thanh Long is the place.
You will not walk out of here disappointed!

The hype is real my friends. The garlic noodle with roasted crab is to die for. We went for my boyfriends birthday and had a memorable experience there filled with tons of seafood.
Thanh long mussels were served in a group of 5 served on a crostini with lots of garlic and butter. Mussels were fresh and the crostini was tasty. Beware those with high cholesterol though, this dish is covered in buttery goodness!
Crab puffs were minced crab, peanuts and herb cheese served with a dipping sauce. Pretty good, but not floored by the flavors.
The main event of the night was the roasted crab with garlic noodle which came out piping hot. The crab was fresh and the noodles, which are big enough for several people to share were amazing. The huge crabs are big enough for two people to share, one of you’re extra hungry. We went on a Sunday night and there were plenty of tables. But I can imagine it could get crowded here on the weekends. Parking here is difficult so be prepared to use the valet service out front.

Believe the hype! Second time I’ve been here and the crab and garlic noodles are still to die for! I try not to look at the prices just so I can enjoy the experience more but it is worth it.
Roast crab– shared with one other person
Perfectly seasoned and I dip the crab into the butter that is on the plate.
Garlic noodles– garlic with a hint of soy. Perfectly seasoned as well.
Coconut shrimp– crispy shrimp with great flavor from the coconut crust
Nice, casual atmosphere. No wait for a table because we went around 7.
Valet parking –12 bucks, kind of expensive but parking sucks in that area
Can’t wait to go back and enjoy some more
Crab!!!

Hands down the best garlic noodles in town! I love their roasted crabs and signature dish seabass with ginger and garlic black bean sauce. I ask where they get their crabs and they get their supplies from Washington. I know in the recent news that the California Health Department issued a warning not to eat Dungeness crabs caught along the coastline of Oregon and southern border of Santa Barbara County because of high levels of domoic acid that causes vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and headache.
The restaurant is only open for dinner. We just spent the day at the Palace of Fine Arts and decided to come here for dinner. We didn’t have reservations and when we got there, there was already a line and it’s only 5pm. Call ahead of time and make sure to put you in the books. Really popular restaurant and it stands true to its reputation.

This place can get very packed, please plan ahead.
If you love Asian /​Vietnamese style crab this is a place to check-​out. The crabs are packed with flavor. I have tried all the variation in flavors and they are all solid, it really comes down to personal preference. The sides: garlic noodle and garlic rice is also very good. They compliment the crabs very well.
They do have very good service. The only downside I see is that the bill can be quite hefty. However, you are paying for seafood, so keep that in mind.

I had always been curious about Vietnamese seafood (especially crabs) cuisine — my friends talk about it, my relatives talk about it, never had a chance to try it. Finally it’s my turn for a friend’s bday dinner at Thanh Long, and to my surprise, it was NOT that good.
On a Wednesday night, didn’t make reservations, was ready for a long line but luckily we grabbed the last 2-​seat table.
#Thanh Long Mussels: B.
It came with 5 mussels and each with a piece of bread at the bottom. While the garlic and green onion smelled and tasted pretty good — it was too buttery. Way too much butter that after 3 minutes when it got a little cooler a layer of fat from the butter formed around the shell of the mussels. The mussels themselves were pretty fresh though.
#Roasted Crab: B.
This was the main dish and I had high expectation, but ended up in disappointment. Again there was a lot (not excessive this time) in the sauce, but problem was this roasted crab lacked black pepper or whatever that should have made the crab more «roasted». And if it was lack of taste on the outside already, needless to say the meat inside was pretty bland. At least the meat was fresh though.
#Garlic Noodles: B-​.
This was the biggest disappointment of the night. I was very looking forward to that as I heard so many good things about this dish from this place… but there was like almost zero garlic taste… like 1% and I’m not even exaggerating. It did taste okay, the noodle was springy, it just shouldn’t be called «garlic» noodle though.
We also got a banana foster as dessert at the end and it was alight. Service on that night was good, a little pricy for that quality of food. Not planning to come back again, but would down to try PPQ which is supposedly another good one, hopefully it will be better there.

This place has some fresh and tasty roasted crab! You can tell the cra was fresh because the meat was tight and in abundance. Both hubby and I ordered our own $ 50/​each.
The menu is similar to crustacean, only
Difference is the sides are cheaper.
I’d take this any day for the cheaper sides!
$ 160/​t-​t and two drinks.
Would be coming back!

Expensive… one crab was $ 40 or so. We only ordered one crab for 3 people, and two garlic noodles, and it ended up being so expensive! It’s way overpriced, though the garlic noodles were delicious – I know I can order that dish anywhere.
I won’t be making the trek way out here anymore. Not worth the price tag!

I’m planning a dinner here for my mom’s birthday and can’t believe I never wrote a review for this place! Everyone loves the roasted crab and garlic noodles, without a doubt. I love eating here with a big group of people because no one else will eat the juices/​fat/​meat out of their crab heads, where as I will go to town on them. I’ve had meals here where I don’t even order anything but garlic noodles, since I am able to completely sustain myself on everyone’s discarded crab heads. (TMI?) My husband and I think one crab is more than enough to share though, when it’s just the two of us.
There is definitely more to Thanh Long’s menu than their delicious crab and garlic noodles. There are still a lot of other mouthwatering options on the menu for those non-​crab fans (who are you???), those allergic to shellfish (understandable) or those looking to save some money (those crabs are a pretty penny).
Other menu favorites:
–Shrimp Toast: shrimp pâté on crispy bread appetizer when you just can’t wait to gorge
–Tiger Garlic Prawns: I think of this as a thanh-​long «light» menu. You get your garlic noodles and 4 pieces of prawns, with the same garlic flavor as the crab, but cheaper.
–Shaken Beef: tender and well-​seasoned for you land lover’s
–Banana Cake: I love banana cakes and they do it right here!
I’ve always found it easy to get a reservation here, but sometimes even with a reservations, there’s a bit of a wait once you arrive. Make sure your entire party is present or they will not seat you. I prefer the atmosphere here to that of PPQ. Parking here is difficult, so I suggest arriving super early to look for street parking in the difficult to park SF neighborhood (or be ready to pay for valet).

I wish I could dig deep down and give Thanh Long 5 stars, but I just can’t.
For the 3 of us we ordered salmon carpaccio, Royal prawns, garlic noodles and 2 garlic roasted crabs.
Salmon Carpaccio: Amazingly fresh, but the raw red onions kind of overpowered the entire dish.
Royal Prawns: The prawns were delicious, but I didn’t expect to have to peel the shell off the shrimp. It was served over the garlic noodles so you would think it is purely a fork and knife dish.
Garlic Noodles: Tasted great the second they hit the table, but as they cooled down they did get a bit bland.
Roasted Garlic Crab: I can not personally attest to this, as I am allergic to crab, but from what locals/​patrons say it is overpriced. Keeping in mind how much crab legs cost at a restaurant makes it seem fairly priced, but I am eager to try other similar restaurants with my family.
Service was prompt and friendly but nothing to write home about.

Another spot that I’ve been wanting to visit for Years. Basically in the opposite direction of my go to spots in SF so it was nice I could finally make it!
Parking on the street is 100% pure luck. Given the busy intersection just plan on pulling up to the side at the valet — hit your hazards — get your ticket and go from there.
Our reservation (highly recommended) was for 6:30 and we arrived super early, 5:30… I informed the lady at check in that I was early and she mentioned she had a table available so boom we were in!
Upon receiving the menus I was totally freakin pissed as I realized I forgot my gloves! Asked our super pretty server if they had gloves and she said yes — score!
Why gloves… Because there is nothing cool with eating potentially messy food with bare hands… What are you a cave man? Not I and just to let you know I’m a Dungeness Crab eating connoisseur as I’ve been eating it with my Grandpa since age 9. Straight whole crab on top of newspaper status.
Back to TL crab — the one they are known for basically seemed like salt n pepper crab (with some other nice spices) with TONS of oil and butter — they could rename this dish Jizz Crab given the amount of oil and butter underneath the crab, it was that pornographic.
Overall the crab was just ok, a little overcooked. Seasoning was nice but too much GD oil and butter, cut the amount in half so we can finish the crab please! Also, it appears you are getting a whole crab but the head is empty! No Crab Butter, at $ 50.00 F-​Ing Bucks you better give me the Butter and the damn water the crab was cooked in for old time sake.
Total Rip Off of a dish — it was okay, and so overpriced. Truly a $ 20.00 — $ 25.00 dish in a practical world.
The garlic noodles were decent with the Chili Sauce you get on the side. Next level is lather them in the crab jizz, and add some chili — The Bomb.
Had the Weakest version of a Vietnamese coffee I’ve ever seen, essentially a disgrace to the Culture and every Viet restaurant I’ve been, Yep — you heard me right a DISGRACE. I tore up Hanoi, Nha Trang and Saigon. If I was served a coffee that small, I or any local would say GTFOOH!
This place is all talk — no walk or perhaps I made the critical mistake and put myself with the lemmings by ordering the «popular» items. Either way — I’m glad I finally tried!
Also, due to the fact that there is sooo much butter n oil you’re basically forced to throw some away or get a doggie bag. If you can actually finish, well you probably wouldn’t be reading this as you’ve would eaten your phone by now, get my drift.
Needless to say we got some good leftovers, I asked for 2 sets of utensils and as we drove through GGP I pulled over and asked some homeless people if they were interested in a portion of the $ 90.00 dinner I just had and they were stoked.
Service was Excellent for a Viet spot, our sever was not only super pretty but on the ball — 20% and my phone number all day but doesn’t warrant a third star as this place needs to be called out.

We haven’t been here in ages! Was it going to be as good as we had remembered? Was it going to be the best we’d ever had?
Yes and Yes! Roast crab and garlic noodles is the only way to go when you’re there. The place was packed the whole time we were there. It can get a bit too noisy but everyone’s having a great time enjoying their delicious fare.
It’s no wonder why Thanh Long has been around for so long. Consistently great food and service. Bravo!

Thanh Long is located in outer sunset on Judah between 46^th and 47^th. This is their original location and has been here as far as I can remember. It’s conveniently located on the N-​Muni line. Parking can be difficult depending on the time of the evening, so I recommend taking Muni or an Über. They do offer valet service.
This is my place to go when I’m in the mood of eating crustacean; it’s a lot of work and I’ll overlook that for the evening. I ordered my usual roasted garlic crab with garlic noodles. Roasted crab currently priced at $ 48.95. The roasted crab is made with the family secret sauce in the «secret kitchen», which is off limits to all employees. The food tasted exactly how I last remember… simply fabulous!
When you do visit make a reservation as it will save the wait time and guarantee you a table. I’m sure you will enjoy this place as much as I have.

Finally got to try the infamous Thanh Long located in outer sunset in an unassuming location right next to the N-​Judah Stop.
I grew up in the avenues, and Thanh Long is literally a 10 minute walk from my house. Knowing how pricey this establishment is, i’ve avoided the hype and thought i’ll wait. Well, I finally cave with my girlfriends and decided to try the infamous roast crab.
First and foremost, yes. your wallet will empty out after eating here. Portions are small, but food. although I don’t want to admit are very flavorful and delicious.
Amongst 3 girls we ordered the following:
–famous garlic roast crab: It was around $ 45 – 50 for the crab, but if you order anything THIS is it. The crab was perfectly infused with garlicky goodness above a bed of infused butter. This was so yummy and for 3 girls, it was enough to share.
–shaken beef: one of the dishes that lots of folks recommended on Unilocal.The piece of beef were very tender. Great execution, but i’ve definitely had better at another joint for cheaper.
–eggplant: the sauce of this was pretty damn bomb. A little more on the sweeter side, but eve my friend that normally don’t like the texture of eggplant thoroughly enjoyed this dish. If you want some type of veggie, this is a good complement to the meal.
–garlic noodles: I would say besides the crab, this is the other «must order» according to all the reviewers. For me, it was good… but i really dont get the hype? hehe.
Services was on point. Make sure you make a reservation. Around dinner time the wait definitely can get long.
The 3 of us finished all the food and was quite filled.

HTF does Thanh Long open in 1971, but I never came here when I lived in the Bay? Just ignorant, I guess. This place started the Viet seafood craze before it became fashionable. TL is located on Judah b/​t 46^th & 47^th in the Outer Sunset (3 blocks from beach). Sister restaurants are Crustacean on Polk in SF and in Beverly Hills.
For six of us, we ordered 2 of each of the following, unless noted otherwise: Salt & pepper calamari ($ 11.95); Soft shell crab ($ 12.25); Garlic toast ($ 3.75); Spicy eggplant w/​shrimp (19.25); Lemon grass chicken ($ 19.25); Saigon beef ($ 24.95 — one); Bo luc lac ($ 25.50 — one); Garlic noodles ($ 10.95 — three); and Roasted crab ($ 48.95 — market price).
First of all, the calamari was very good. It had excellent flavor and was not greasy. The only downside was the price: 4 Stars. Secondarily, the soft shell crab was a tad overcooked and overpriced. Nonetheless, is tasted good: 3 Stars. Thirdly, the garlic toast was OK. It didn’t taste that garlicky. We would have been better off with the mussels served on toast: 3 Stars.
For our main courses, the spicy eggplant was very good. The eggplant was firm and not overcooked like many restaurants. Downsides were there wasn’t much shrimp and the price: 3 Stars. Secondarily, the chicken was colorful, but the lemongrass really didn’t stand out. It too was overpriced: 3 Stars. Our first beef dish didn’t really do anything to excite us. The flavor was OK, but like the other dishes, it was overpriced: 3 Stars. On the other hand, the second beef dish was tender and nicely seasoned. The only downside was the price: 4 Stars.
Our last two dishes, were the best. TL’s version of garlic noodles are the best I have had. The noodles were al dente, weren’t drowned in sauce, and the amount of garlic flavor was perfect. No wonder so many places try to copy this dish: 5+++ Stars. Secondarily, the roasted crab was excellent. I used the head as a bowl. The meat was moist and wonderfully seasoned. It wasn’t as good as R & G in Chinatown, but it still was one of the two best dishes of the evening: 5 Stars.
Regarding the service, it was outstanding. Our waitress was excellent, and took very good care of us. She didn’t write any of our orders down (inc drinks), and didn’t miss anything. The food came out quickly, and we were constantly given new bowls for our crab shells: 5 Stars. On the other hand, the ambiance was just OK. This place is a quaint cozy place. However, the bathroom was kinda dirty, and the valet was expensive at $ 12: 3 Stars.
I’d definitely come back here, but I’d stick to the seafood and garlic noodles that are excellent. The turf dishes are not that good. Lastly, most of the prices are high, but I was pretty full without the chicken, eggplant and soft shell crab that we added later.